Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel has been a polarizing figure thus far in the draft process, intriguing many with his impressive physical tools while also drawing criticisms that he’s not prepared to run an NFL offense. Over the past two seasons, Manuel posted a 66.7 percent completion rate, 8.7 yards-per-attempt, and a 41-to-18 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Scouting Report

On paper, Manuel has everything you’d want in a quarterback. He’s 6-5 and 237 pounds with 10 3/8-inch hands. Manuel ran an impressive 4.65 40-yard dash at the Combine, coinciding with the mobility he displays on tape. There’s no doubt that one of Manuel’s biggest strengths is buying time in the pocket when things break down; he does a nice job of taking off when needed but still keeping his eyes downfield to make plays.

Manuel is an excellent ball-handler, making him deadly on play-action fakes. You can see him on traditional play-action looks throughout the video below. Manuel has plenty of experiencing dropping back and performing pro-style play-fakes. Due to his mobility, Manuel can also run read-option (0:38 and 5:16 marks) and play-fakes off of it (2:25 and 5:35 marks). In a league that is transforming to more appropriately utilize quarterback mobility, Manuel’s ability to run read-option and throw out of the look is valuable.

There are questions about Manuel’s accuracy, although his completion percentage at Florida State was solid. Many have characterized Florida State’s offense as being overly simplistic; Manuel often had one or two reads and, at times, he forced the ball into coverage. You can see him force a fade at the 4:35 mark.

Manuel’s decision-making is his biggest question mark. He obviously has the physical tools to succeed, but it’s worth wondering if Manuel can run an NFL offense. Can he go through multiple progressions and accurately deliver the football on a consistent basis?

The best evidence that Manuel can succeed in the pros is that he performed well in college. His efficiency was outstanding. Manuel needs to improve his footwork and decision-making, but the idea that he “can’t” run an NFL offense is silly. If NFL coaches astutely molded their schemes to accommodate talented players instead of stubbornly searching for an entire team of specific players who fit their rigid schemes, players like Manuel might not be wrongly downgraded.

Projection

Manuel is a longshot to get selected in the first round, but the second round seems likely. He’s in a battle with quarterbacks like Tennessee’s Tyler Bray and Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib to be the fourth quarterback off of the board, so he could potentially fall into the third round if he loses out.

Fit In Dallas

Could Manuel be effective in the Cowboys’ current offense? Probably, but any coach who tries to plug Manuel into their system without working to his strengths is going to be leaving a lot on the table. Manuel would probably be best-suited in an offense similar to what Carolina ran last year with Cam Newton or what Washington ran with Robert Griffin III. If the Cowboys are willing to alter their scheme, Manuel could potentially be the successor to Tony Romo.

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